Sonsio Grand Prix brings IndyCar racing back to IMS

Driving the news: Gates open at 7:30am Friday for a full day of action on the track.

• Highlights include practice and qualifying for Saturday's NTT IndyCar race.
• Race day starts at 8am Saturday with a variety of lower-series races before the main event at 4:30pm.
• Pro tip: Stay through the checkered flag for a post-race track walk, where fans can stroll along the straightaway, snap pictures at the Yard of Bricks and take part in the victory celebration.

The intrigue: IndyCar series' current points leader Alex Palou owns the GP, having won the event the last three years, and is the heavy favorite to do so again.

• If he wins Saturday, it'll set up Palou's chance at another May sweep at IMS.

Yes, but: Pato O'Ward could be the spoiler.

• He's having a solid start to the INDYCAR season and is laser-focused on Indy, where he finished second in the GP last year and third in the 500.

Fun fact: The road course at IMS was originally built for Formula One racing, which competed on it from 2000–2007.

• The IndyCar Grand Prix began in 2014 on a modified version of that original circuit, which incorporates parts of the infamous IMS oval.

If you go: General admission race day tickets start at $45.

• Friday practice tickets are $25.